Lamar Odom has revealed that the idea to launch their reality series, “Khloé & Lamar”, originated from him rather than his then-wife Khloé Kardashian. In a recent interview featured in the Netflix docuseries “Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom”, both the former NBA star and Kardashian reflected on their relationship and the pressures surrounding their lives during their time on television.
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Odom, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers at the time, expressed his ambition to synergise his NBA fame with the well-known Kardashian brand. He stated, “Now I’m already Lamar Odom, and I’m just watching how she lives and their lifestyle. I’m like, ‘I know this is where I wanna be.’ Like, ‘This is how I wanna live.’” He described the prospect of combining the “Laker power” with the “Kardashian power” as an exhilarating concept, although he later admitted that he wasn’t adequately prepared for that level of visibility and scrutiny.
The reality show aired from 2011 to 2012 as a spin-off of the more extensive “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” franchise, which has seen several successors over the years. Kardashian, now 41, did not initially embrace the idea of the show, stating, “Khloé & Lamar was not my idea… it was led very much by Lamar.” Furthermore, she noted the challenges of balancing her commitments with the potential repercussions on her family’s brand, primarily focused on the success of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”.
During the height of their relationship, Kardashian and Odom experienced a whirlwind romance; they met in August 2009, became engaged the following month, and married in September of the same year. Despite their rapid progression, Kardashian felt the scepticism of public opinion weighing heavily on her, which added tension to their union.
Odom expressed a fervent desire to embrace the media spotlight, noting that he enjoyed the interaction with cameras and his appearances on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” were exhilarating for him. “Lamar loves a camera,” Kardashian recalled, highlighting Odom’s eagerness for publicity at the time.
Despite Odom’s enthusiasm, Kardashian urged him to consider his primary career with the Lakers. She questioned whether entering reality television was what he truly desired, to which he confidently replied in the affirmative. This led to the series airing immediately after Lakers games, enabling Odom to feature prominently on television twice each Sunday—once for sporting events and once for their show.
Odom’s career saw significant achievements, including winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011. Subsequently, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks before returning to the Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, he faced a career setback due to a back injury, leading to limited appearances in the EuroLeague.
Their relationship took a tumultuous turn when Kardashian filed for divorce in December 2013. Although she briefly halted the proceedings following Odom’s near-fatal overdose in 2015, they eventually finalised their separation in 2016. In subsequent interviews, Odom reflected on the harrowing experience of his overdose, recalling waking up in a hospital and struggling to communicate. “That was the scariest part. And not being able to walk. I’m a big athlete, you know?” he recounted.
The Netflix docuseries chronicling his life, “Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom”, premieres on March 31, with new episodes scheduled for release weekly until April 21. Through this series, both Odom and Kardashian hope to shed light on their experiences and the impact of fame and addiction on their lives.
As they reminisce about their past, Odom continues to advocate for awareness surrounding addiction, and Kardashian shares her journey of resilience amid public scrutiny. The episode highlights not only their turbulent relationship but also the profound effects it had on both of their lives in the context of fame and the sport.